30. November 2010 by Assimba.

By Yilma Bekele

The fearless leader from Wasilla said “This speaks to a bigger picture here that certainly scares me in terms of our national security policy. But obviously we’ve gotta stand with our North Korean allies.”—Discussing Obama’s foreign policy in an interview with fellow whacko Glenn Beck. Someone should tell dear old Sarah it is South Korea that is allied with the US not the dear leader for life, Kim’s kingdom.

That is Sarah always in a hurry to say her two cents worth to find fault with anything Obama. She forgot to jot it down on her palm for easy reference. As far as Sarah is concerned the issue is exposure not content. Being a headliner has its rewards. Her net worth has gone to ‘where no one has gone before.’ It is understandable if she is delirious with this newfound wealth and fame.

Most people do not take Sarah’s pronouncements seriously. Her aim is to raise money for her Political Action Committee so she can be free to be more bizarre if that is possible, raise Fox channel’s ratings and twist the left out of shape.

On the other hand the Ethiopian Prime Minster’s attempt to be like Sarah is not funny at all. Being the de facto head of state and responsible for over eighty million people demands certain amount of maturity and self-control. As they say ‘loose lips sink ship’ or ‘careless talk cost lives.’

This last week in an interview Meles Zenawi let loose a barrage of insults, machismo behavior, unsubstantiated allegations and a dare against our Egyptian friends and neighbors. Ethiopia and Egypt, bound by the Nile and our ancient cultures are like a pea in a pod. We have cultural, spiritual, geographic bonds that date back before history. In recent years some of us remember when Emperor Haile Sellasie and Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser founded the Organization of African Unity. Our two countries are natural allies.

It is a geographic fact that the mighty Abay starts from our highlands and is the lifeline of Egypt. Without Abay there will be no Egypt. Without Abay there would be no Pyramids. For our Egyptian friends Abay is their life. For us Ethiopians it is a huge responsibility to be the keeper of such important key. Our leaders thru time have kept the promise of being good guardians.

Why then did the Ethiopian Junta leader walk the extra mile to pick a quarrel with our friends? What is the meaning of such tantrum that wants to pass as a meaningful statement?

According to Reuters this is what he said, “I am not worried that the Egyptians will suddenly invade Ethiopia nobody who has tried that has lived to tell the story. I don’t think the Egyptians will be any different and I think they know that…. The Egyptians have yet to make up their minds as to whether they want to live in the 21st or the 19th century” and after accusing them of trying to destabilize Ethiopia he went on to say ‘If we address the issues around which the rebel groups are mobilized then we can neutralize them and therefore make it impossible for the Egyptians to fish in troubled waters because there won’t be any’

Our fearless leader for life puts Sarah to shame. The Egyptians who are vented upon were both perplexed and amused by the TPLF’s boss behavior. President Mubarak’s response was ‘“We have very amicable relations with Ethiopia, I was surprised by these comments because this is something we cannot do with any Arab or African country.”

Ethiopia does not benefit from this raw. At the moment there are thousands of Ethiopians in Egypt using the country as a transit point. It is Ethiopia’s interest to keep friendly relations with Egypt for the sake of our people stuck there. Egypt is not aware that the Ethiopian regime views it with such hostility to the extent of beating the drums of war. It is not in Ethiopia’s interest to pick a quarrel with such an important country in the region.

Before going any further let us see the position where these two counties occupy in the pecking order of our planet.

It looks like Egypt has a head start on us. To achieve what they have today they must have worked hard. They must have plenty of educated people to run such advanced industrial system compared to Ethiopia. It is obvious Egyptians are good company to keep as a friend. It is just odd to see a regime daring a neighbor thousands of kilometers away when it is even unable to exert any influence in Somalia the only place on earth without a functioning government.

The question becomes why is Ato Meles doing this at this time? Or why is his communications department busy creating news out of thin air? Why is he hell bent in starting a conflict with all our neighbors? Why is our country becoming the mad dog of Africa?

I believe all this incomprehensible blabber is not an accident. It is part and parcel of the ‘modus operandi’ of a dictatorial regime. It is just like Hollywood stars or celebrities like Sarah Palin manage to insert themselves in the news no matter the content. Being quoted, talked about or photographed shows the public that they are around and are making news. They use their notoriety as leverage for more pay, better parts or good table in a restaurant.

The Meles regime uses these bizarre news and behaviors to have the population discuss their latest stupidity while they achieve another goal unseen or cover up one of their blunders. If we observe closely the ‘Egyptian issue’ created its own dynamic. Most of us were amused and it confirmed our belief regarding the sanity of the PM and his underlings. Some of us will conjure this image of belligerent Egypt sending its army to take Abay, while a few of us will even venture to say that it is a ‘Moslem’ conspiracy to conquer our country while the ‘cadres chorus’ repeats Ato Meles is ‘the man!’ the only one with balls to defend good old Ethiopia.

We are familiar with this game plan. Whenever the TPLF regime screws up they give us some bone to chew on. Of course we bite and the rest is history, that is until next weeks drama. We don’t have to go far. The last month TPLF cadres were caught with inflation climbing, their Patriarch with his statue, the Human Right report and most important of all the World Bank revelation that the regime is recipient of over 3billion dollars from the Diaspora in remittances. That is a lot of money. That is bigger than what the despot gets selling coffee, hides and skins, Kat and gold combined. We are the cash cows that help the dictator abuse our country and people.

Well my Diaspora friend take a bow, you are the reason this bunch of psychopaths are lording it over us. There is no reason to be shy about it. There is no reason to hide. Come on get some spine and admit that you were willing to buy stolen land. Of course you claim you created jobs and helped your country. I have no quarrel with self-delusion. You can believe all you want but when the bubble collapses and your pretty condominium go a penny on the dollar I know you will be heartbroken. You will cry foul. All I can say is no one gets rich and famous standing on his peoples shoulder, sooner or later the ponzi scheme collapses the question is who is gona be caught holding the bag.

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29. November 2010 by Assimba.

Getachew Reda (Editor- Ethiopian Semay )

First of all, let me apologize for using the English language by not using the Ethiopian languages. This is because; I am experiencing the Geez Font problem temporarily. Having said that, in this article along with Lidetu and his opponents in London, I will touch some other several different subjects/issues unrelated to the title given. I will touch Lidetu, the opposition media, Human Rights and Journalist associations and their failing business. As you are well aware you have witnessed “all” opposition parties inside the country (I mean ALL!!!!) failed confronting the fascist, the hateful, the liar the genocidal and mercenary government called “TPLF/EPRDF” for stealing, cheating, violating the people’s voice and for abusing its power for so long. And the so called oppositions walked away silently with their tail wagging under their legs with fear and broke their promise to challenge the abusive s in system in power right after the moment the fraudulent TPLF government declared victory. As the result of it, some of the Diaspora opposition went shock (including me) for seeing the opposition in the country whom many of us thought one of them or all of them will encounter the fraudulent system for its cheater behavior and exposed him with a country wide demonstration and every necessary steps to challenge and remove the Emperor of TPLF and his Dukes in power. Unfortunately, they shocked us by quietly went like a thief and like abused women with no clue where to go!

Now, the consequence of it, the opposition supporters in the Diaspora went to almost to a cycle of nervous breakdown and unbelievable confusion. Though it is understood for the opposition in the Diaspora why they are experiencing such shocking moment after many of them financially or spiritually or whatever possible support they gave in the hope to challenge the mercenaries and the fascists and hate mongers in power: In a strange manner, they kept their shock to themselves without condemning the cowardice opposition political leaders who drag the people to the voting poll and left their vote be taken away illegally by the criminal TPLF.

The concern is why the Diaspora Opposition still believe the same leaders who failed over and over and recently also failed miserably in unbelievable way and still gave them a trust that the same cowardice political leaders (Medrek, UDJ, EAUP, Arena…) will fight the genocidal and the fascistic TPLF in the next cycle of confrontation is indeed the most shocking situation than the shock itself.

Not only that many of Diaspora opposition members are acting in a confused and unlearned behavior still flirting and respecting the cowardice political leaders but with the useless and destructive media owners as well.

The strange status didn’t stop there, but also, still, some of the oppositions tried to release its shock /nervous breakdown agony by opposing Lidetu as a therapy and a scapegoat to their shock. It is clearly premature politics!

If they think something is wrong with Lidetu (which he is also in denial in some aspects), it is also equally the same with those who are “MOUTH” OPPOSITION leaders who used our energy and finance to support them, unfortunately, and unbelievably at the end when the true fight approach they too, I mean they too run away with no hesitation, shameful, and quietly like uninitiated, weak, toothless dog from fighting the cheater (TPLF) by leaving the population shocked without political shelter to combat the enemy (They left the population at AWALALA MEDA LAY with no strategy to combat back the enemy !) They too betrayed the people and broke their promise. Is that not right? They too devastated the people’s struggle and spirit for a long time to come may be even going to be toughest for the future if the people to trust any opposition when the people need leaders to lead them with pride, principled, focused, strength and fearless. That is the shocking part of it. We are still on denial!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I heard from Lidetu’s interview posted on You Tube is he invited the Londoners (oppositions
whoever they are) to discuss with him or raise their concern about him or future situation than to be noisy outside or outside the hall or deny others who went there to discuss with him or raise their concern if they have one if it helps what to be done for the future. His invitation has nothing wrong, but, whoever they are failed miserably to respond in kind. Believe me, as I said before, Lidetu needs to come out of his denial (some of his distorted belief towards the criminal TPLF- needs to be rejected- he needs to revise some of his positions and some myths….), but he is no worst criminal or worst irresponsible or responsible (accountable) or whatever word one wants to use, than the Berhanu or Andargachew or UDJ’s or EAUP leaders the rest. Not at all!!! (I can provide you so many evidence that each party broke their promises, violated many issues and exposed the population by lying and signing a crime they didn’t participate, because the government pressured them…) So. The opposition members (who ever they are) are manipulated by the Diaspora caved political leaders guidance and with all the scenario they seemed to be discriminative in a narrow partisan mentality when they singly attacked Lidetu alone, as if he not their leaders at fault.

The Opposition media are also playing games with such useless politics to look as if something significant is achieved. Some of the opposition in the Diaspora also need to know how the opposition media websites (all – I mean all) are distorted, partisans, I have even some doubts that some particular opposition media are undercover media who served separatist parties and playing destructive anti unity roles.

See how some of the opposition and their media were so unbelievably out of touch talking for so long about Bertukan invitation by the Northern America Sport Federation issue. That was the most ridiculous foolish and hypocrite arguments I have ever seen in few years (at least). Lawyers, commentators, journalists (? if they are), poets, Pal Takers …..Were feeding myth to the opposition (struggle) on and on and on and on until we feel nauseating. Sad!

Who can we believe and who can we talk? To the Journalists? Do we have elements called journalists? I do not think so: may be Tesfaye GebreAb?- Can we use him or trust him? If Berhanu Nega allows us to use him!!!! The rest are not media operators or journalists- to verify what I am saying listen to the Reporter editor Asegid Tefera’s interview on ESAT. He will tell you in a simple word what I was saying all along “There is no media accountable to report the pain of the nation!!!!!!!!!!!!” “The media is the first one to be accountable!!!!!!” The media betrayed the nation!!!!” The media is the most criminal of all elements!!!!” yes, Asegid Tefera was right; though some phrases are mine only mine! This media people “crap!!!” can’t even openly coordinate the public efficiently to help their own fellow journalists when caved in hell by different dilemma, when their fellow journalist is sick theirs/public support or expose TPLF gangs for attacking their fellow journalist/s. For your surprise some of the Ethiopian opposition media (search Google about one Ethiopian journalist in Sweden (?)(Some where in Europe) personality is dedicated to free an “Eritrean journalist”. One of the Ethiopian fellow who lived in Europe dedicated a full time effort to freed one of the hateful journalists (check what he and his likes was writing about our people while they were in Asmara flirting with EPLF government as media people) like by the name Dawit now in jail by Isayas while forgot one of their own in India “Eyerusalem Araya” who is been harassed by TPLF monster/ gangsters. What does that show you? Delusion? I have no idea. Those are Ethiopian journalists who are fighting for Eritrean journalists while their own fellow journalists are exposed for hunger, and murder and health sickness and freedom to move all over the world as immigrants.

Some are even for your surprise elected for International Award for best Journalism! I don’t mind some of those brothers got the prize (I am happy for them), but are they truly qualified for it? No! (Do we know the chain that is pushing such personalities for nomination?)! {WEYtiGudu! Ale Tigre}. How many journalists do you know who were murdered by TPLF gang Knives/sword while tried to go home from work late night? Many of them. How many Human Right activists were murdered by TPLF in a day time and no TPLF gangs/ government security chiefs went unaccountable? Many .Asefa Maru was the victim of such. Tesfaye was the victim … I mean many and many…! Do you believe that Journalists like Eyerusalem can’t even get financial or even news coverage when he is day in day out beaten and run for his life on hiding in India? He is still in need of help (financial and moral and media coverage and none of those (with the exception of few) media are willing to write news or his and his daughter’s situation living as immigrant in India). Who should remember those? It should have been the job of Kifle Mulat the president of the “EFJA” and his officers and as well the rest of the useless “free-media” gangs by dedicating a special page/ website for their fellow members in hardship . But what they do and write and dedicated their pages is for elites that are already their mantra in their group/circle. For your surprise, I tried to contact numerous times to talk to him about the Journalists in Yemen (Serbesa Biru and his other friends) and Iyerusalem Araya and his 13 years old daughter suffering in hiding in India- BOY!!!!!! It was the most disrespectful experience I have never encountered by any educated Ethiopian that I tried to contact ignored my inquiry so far (even the most who hated me response whatever their mind reads them to response with respect). He is the only one Ethiopian I encountered in 18 years I experience ignored my inquiry! Surprisingly, he was able to respond to those known anti Tigray haters calling itself Current Affairs Pal Talk for his interview several times. Doesn’t that make you so sick in your stomach? He was there talking garbage about how he is proud of his fellow journalists nominated for prize!!!!!! Wei TiGUDu !! ale Tigre!

Forget the so called partisan and ineffective journalist institutions (/global/local) to the dust bin. Come to the Human Right Institutions. Check the International Human Rights evaluation of nomination in Ethiopia and you will see how naïve and premature its evaluation for victims award of prize nomination procedure goes too. Have you ever heard the Human Rights talking about victims or nominating about Gebremedhin Araya (who exposed TPLF’s heinous crime in a different and multiple charges and got beaten up to death almost paralyzed in Uganda! Have you ever heard of them talking about him? No! Have you also heard the Human Rights (local or International Human Right agencies ) let alone to nominate even mentioning their name like “Tsegaye Gebremedhin’s EPRP or Abera YemaneAbin, Aberash berta or Asefa Maru…..”? Have you even ever the opposition media ever mentioned those people (Apart the EPRP websites) .Why? Because many of the media or international/Local Human Rights or media outlets. Operators are partisans. They discriminate from victim to victim! The EPRP websites posted pictures and stories of many of the TPLF victims including Bertukan Meddiksa on their websites, but none, I mean none of the opposition websites dare to remember the EPRP leaders and fighters who are TPLF victims. Why? They are ignorant! Nothing else, but ignorance and also twisted by few undisclosed local elites who are partisans from victim to victim confusing the Institution/and the Institution’s officers. You need to have someone there with the ill informed International Human Right officers to push your victim to be nominated. Honestly, I have no idea who lead the Local or International Human Right institutions, but long live and my respect to “SOCEPP” (Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners located here in the Diaspora is doing much, way much better job than the so called Human Rights ….and Journalist associations who are funded by so much millions or thousands of money and man power….). If I get killed by the mercenaries it is rest assures it will be the SOCEPP that will fight for me not the so called Ethiopian Human Right Activist or International Human Right Activist. Hope the Human Rights or PEN or other contact “SOCEPP” (you can Google for their address) to be oriented about Ethiopia and government victims. I recommended the Human Right Institution and the like contact “SOCEPP” and add in its Committee if it really wants to help Human Right respect. If not, it will be a joke business like the so called UNHCR joke business.

Those opposition media

The so called opposition/free media are the play ground of few of the opposition leaders who are feeding myth to their members. The media themselves are part of the myth feeding business. They need to stop from further damaging the brain of their followers (community) if they really are “free media”. My readers know that for years I have stopped trusting some of the Diaspora media websites calling themselves “Public Media”. I sometimes throw some of my staffs on their website when they allow it (when they are in a good mood) to reach you. But, I never trusted them as media (all). I am glad I have my own I can spread it to the readers equally like their websites. Or else I wouldn’t be able to raise a word of my voice against TPLF or against the myth feeders.

I visited some of the websites this New Year (Ethiopian New Year) to see if they improve their attitude on their website and their maturity on their newly reconstructed websites. Shockingly, some of them even got worst. Just look at their page of link “Political Parties” visit Ethioforum-one of the dangerous media elite outlet to the nation’s unity, anti Ethiopia and destructive gangster media type website (I called them GANG media) and myth feeders and hate group boot lickers… :- If you see for example Ethioforum.org by Kenfu Asefa- The Ethiopian Political parties are in his link “OLF, ONLF, Ginbot7, Andint and EPRP –D” Kenfu Assefa even have a link to EPRDF media outlets while he deny other opposition media access (How ignorant do you think this media operators can be than this?!). Check their links who they recommended the public to read them when you get a chance to visit them. From Ethiomedia to Ethiforum, ECADEF, Abugida, Abay Media…!). And read the many of the opposition websites what kind of articles they highlighted or recommended their link the public to access as important message or media or political party. These are untrained elements, bias and ignorant of any knowledge of justice and media. These idiots are calling OLF, ONL as political party while these are the organization of terror as the primary responsible for human crime and ethnic cleansing equal with TPLF. And yet, they referred to you to trust them as political parties while they deny readers to have the opportunity the link of other media. Their service as media is no different than those political leaders who simply feeding the public a myth! I do not trust them! You shouldn’t either!

Generally speaking the public needs other media outlet and other new political leaders other than those who were feeding us myth for long many years. Both are in a big lie. It is clear that any confused and shocked victim will eventually seek therapy for the shock and disbelief due to the betrayal of all the opposition leaders in the country, but it will be reasonable to demonstrate to find a therapy for the shock not only against Lidetu, but also against all the political liars who misguided us in this last election again. /-/ Thanks- www.ethiopiansemay.blogspot.com

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19. November 2010 by Assimba.

Yinegal   Belachew

I wanted to give one among various titles to this piece of writing: Just few of them; ‘Yayt Misikir Dinbit’, ‘Zer Kelguam Yisbal’, ‘Tinish Siga Endemerfe Tiwoga’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘A Review of a Book Review’, ‘A Blind lead the Blind,’ et cetera. But  thanks to my rethinking, I chose none of these and took another, for I think it would be unusual to mix up an Amharic title to an English article or to use someone’s book title or to review a review. Nevertheless; come what may, here I am to ‘review’ the ‘review’ of this Reverend  Tecolaworq Hagos which he recently published on some sites.

The title of the book he reviewed and commented is Gahdi One.

Author - Asgede G. Selassie
Signature Book Printing, 2007
Page 240  price $20.00

“Any book review ought to be in the language read by the reviewer. In that case, this review and commentary should have been in Amharic. I am making an exception for the book Gahdi 1 because itis an extremely important book and should be read by every Ethiopian, and I chose to review it in English for maximum reach.”  (stress mine)
The FALLACY begins right here!

Everything I say here is according to me and only me. I only follow my stream of consciousness, not the so called logic or syllogism or anything like that, for I am absolutely exasperated by this brother of mine, Tecola W. Hagos. I hope he’ll read me as I did his.

OK, I said a bit earlier that the FALLACY started there. Let me ask you one simple logical question (Aha! sorry, I said no need of logic!), just simply simple question, who proved that English readers of Ethiopians are more in number than Amharic readers? The scholars of which country in the world have ever found such a new ‘scientific invention’ and declared that the people of their country are more akin to and familiar with a foreign language? What does Tecola mean when he says, in my own words, “Whereas the majority of Ethiopians never understand the Amharic language; whereas over 85% of Ethiopians are nearly PhD holders; whereas almost all the academic staffs of universities and colleges in all over the world are Ethiopians; whereas all English speaking people of the globe are attentively following the daily political and economic  affairs of Ethiopia; whereas the shiftas’ or Mafiosi’s ruling junta of the TPLF/Meles is in its deathbed; . . . Therefore,  I Tecolaworq Hagos have contributed this article in English so that the western hemisphere could stay hand in glove with my naughty boy, Meles Zenawi.”

So fantastic. So intellectual! So funny individual! Most astonishingly ‘ more Catholic than the Pope!’ and more dynamically shameless Ethiopian than anyone of us. So far so good, hence.

What is meant to be Ethiopian, then? Should we always get something shameful from our people so that we have to judge one another in an exotically different manner? Should history be redefined in our time in such a way that ‘history is the document in which the winners, in whatever way and means they win and sustain their victory, shall leave only their account in any way they wish and like?’

This review of Tecola tries to replenish the empty buffet of the Woyanne, though in vain. It doesn’t mention any serious evil about Meles and co. It rather goes farther to the extent of suggesting, though impliedly, to consecrate TPLF/Meles and carve a certain Tabot (ark of covenant), as may be forty fifth or so, to be worshiped by all Ethiopians to whom the kingship of  Meles has brought a ‘tremendous’ blessing.

Other than Herman Cohen, who helped TPLF enter Addis Ababa in that bloody year of 1991(gumbet)? How many Eritreans do you guess had assisted TPLF in all fronts? What is the purpose of all this lying?  Who denied the credit of the Woyannes that they had liberated us, Ethiopians, from our liberty? They deprived us of the small freedom we had and rewarded our silence with an utmost slavery, a slavery which has never been seen in this physical world hitherto. Period. No, not yet for a period, who welcomed and introduced Mr. Apartheid in Ethiopia when His Excellency was chased out of South Africa? It is Ato Meles and his friends. Period. If anyone denies, it is up to them. I stick to my reality, they with theirs. Deal!

Look at this nonsensical blabbing.

“It is often claimed by opposition groups and the general public that EPLF was the main player responsible for the defeat of Mengistu Hailemariam and that helped TPLF fighters to overrun Mengistu’s Army and enter Addis Ababa in triumph. The fact is far from such exaggerated claims, for the numbers of EPLF fighters who were embedded in the TPLF’s expeditionary forces that entered Addis Ababa were not even one hundred distributed in different TPLF fighting unites, [units] hardly of any significance. [pp159-163] Those EPLF members were joined by EPLF security personnel.”(stress mine)

Only ONE HUNDRED EPLF fighters? Does this figure include Meles and Bereket or not? Leave alone ordinary fighters, how many of the central committee members of the TPLF were and still are Eritreans? What is the gain of such a bitter joke, dear Tecola? I know you are citing, but at the same time you are supporting and moreover you believe that Ato Asgede is ‘a man of the people.’ I don’t have any grudge on that actually. He could be so, though I know nothing in that regard. But as you said if he had been one of those eleven core members of TPLF in the beginning, there is no reason that Ato Asgede ccouldn’t be one among those  ‘men of the people’ who deserve our indebtedness.

Tecola beautifully narrates the evils of our former cruel leader, which is right, good of him, and appreciable, but he doesn’t even mention a single of the pogroms carried out by his man, thanks to Tecola, he himself rewarded me this ugly expression indirectly, Meles: - the Agnuaks in Gambella or the Amharic speaking people in Arbagugu, Bedeno, Majetie, Jimma, Asebot, Gonder, et cetera. Why? Well, it is simple. If Tecola mentions these massacres and the over all destruction Meles handed out to ‘his mother land, Ethiopia’, his man would be offended and may be exposed to the international community. Such is stupidity! Such has become Ethiopianism! Such as me and such as him and such as such people of his like and my like are equally claiming to be Ethiopians! Wonderful time, amazing historical conjuncture.

Look at this paragraph:

This is a crucial time for most Ethiopians both in the Motherland and in the Diaspora. Both our liberation and the healing of our spiritual lives may start with our facing the most unpleasant truth of our recent history starting from 1965 to date. Mengistu Hailemariam committed genocidal murders in Tigray and Eritrea, and countless assassinations and public executions of students, civilians from all walks of life (not even sparing religious leaders); he unleashed a reign of terror unheard of in Ethiopia’s long history, for eighteen years devastating the national economy and social life.  Thus, all those who were associated with Mengistu at high policy level relationships should never be involved in any capacity in our Diaspora political opposition. There are many individuals whose hands are drenched with the blood of their innocent victims. Such criminals are hiding allover the Free World, in the United States, Britain, France, Germany et cetera. It is often the case that such criminals often times may be part of opposition groups in clandestine or open activities of agitation and despoiling the names and reputations of those who challenge them, continuing their “Red Terror” activities from the era of the dictatorship of Mengistu Hailemariam. Some even have the absurd idea to reinstate the criminal Mengistu Hailemariam back in power.

I am not opposing his narration about Mengistu, though he is too far away from Ms. Fairness. Those Dergue people, who weren’t arrested and exposed to an indefinite extrajudicial imprisonment then, wherever they might be living currently, are by now dead or old, or if alive, maybe they have learnt from their mistakes and might have corrected or adjusted the way they perceive the world by now. When I say this I don’t mean that a criminal should remain unprosecuted, they should, unlike the woyannes who feel even as if they are above God, for the time being of course.
But understandably, this brother of butchers, this Tecola, who apparently looks psychic individual, seems as revengeful as his ‘kinsman’ at Arat Kilo and is saber-rattling to slaughter them if he gets the chance. Look how he is blood thirsty!  His education never changed him; rather, it worsened his animalistic behavior and is pushing him for another vengeance. Doesn’t he develop a sense of forgiveness after all those 20 years while in due course of time we have fresh butchers here in Addis? Or is it because these murderers are not murderers for the fact that they don’t cut the throats of the people he knows well at his vicinity? Is it not really surprising, ladies and gentlemen? Shouldn’t he silence his pen instead of stoking up unnecessary duels at this time wherein every one of us should abide by the cohesive factors of mere humanity if not possible at all to enhance one Ethiopian nationality? Who is going to benefit? Who forbade him to come and takeover one of the ministries rather than serving the junta as a mole embedded in the Diaspora?

Look at the following citation as his MASTERPIECE in his appraisal ‘review’.

Mengistu’s brutal Government unleashed a wave of genocidal massacre in Tigray. It is ironic that we hear and read about “genocidal Meles Zenawi” whose crime is absolutely miniscule[minuscule] compared to the hundreds of thousands of murdered and brutalized Ethiopian Citizens by Mengistu Hailemariam.

Well, if you once get out of your sane mentality nothing good comes out your of mouth, or pen in our case. According to Tecola, Meles Zenawi should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to his contribution in regard to killing hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians, sending millions of citizens off the country through ‘Bale’ or ‘Bole’ and exposing them to an atrocious life of emigration, impoverishing millions of Ethiopians irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations, composing scores of ethnic based tribal anthems along with their flags so that the name ETHIOPIA itself would be forgotten shortly afterwards,… OH!  Yes, Meles’ crimes and sins are MINUSCULE in Tecola’s own terminology! Or if he used it unknowingly, he should take some courses in how to use some diction in English.

Minuscule:    Extremely small (Encarta Dictionary)
Minuscule: Extremely small  (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
Minuscule: Extremely small in size or amount (Macmillan English Dictionary)

My last words: Of course Mengistu Hailemariam jailed, tortured, murdered, … zillions of people in his usurpation. I don’t sympathize with him. He could be analogous to the cruelest father in a nation. But Meles Zenawi jailed, tortured, murdered,… not only people but also he tried to destroy everything ETHIOPIAN in nearly irreversible manner. And unless the ‘braves’ come soon and retrieve the country from the gripping hands of these devil-incarnates, just within five or ten years, … no, no, no, that is not going to happen.  [አፌን በዳቦ ያዝኩት]

“Let the ‘braves’ come soon”! God bless Ethiopia!   Yinegal3@gmail.com

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19. November 2010 by Assimba.

(by Sahlu Bekele – Toronto)

The Spanish, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Italians and the Dutch were the major colonizers of their respective colonies in Africa. All colonies except Ethiopia had suffered humiliation and conquest in the hands of these European forces. After the colonizers devoured all the resources and decided when they had enough, they allowed independence of their colonies willingly or unwillingly only about half a century ago. Ethiopia was an exception in the history of colonization. When the British army descended on Ethiopia in 1868, King Tewodros shot himself in the head not to give in to the foreign forces in honour of his people and his land at Mekdela. The British left for England taking the King’s wife and his son along with them. When the Italians marched on Ethiopia in 1896, King Menilik mobilized Ethiopians and defeated the Italians at the battle of Adwa. Having suffered their humiliation and having mourned for forty years, the Italians again tried to conquer Ethiopia unsuccessfully for a brief period between 1936 and 1941. Forced by the relentless resistance of the Ethiopian patriots who fought them in the jungle, meadows, mountains and valleys, and by the late support of the British and Americans, they finally succumbed to their defeat and went back to where they came from. So there was a short history of Italian attempt to colonize Ethiopia that never materialized. However their failure has become the mother of success by the internal colonizers we call ‘Weyanes’ who have done what the Italian were not able to do and goes the saying, “Enemies never come far, near!”

A narrow nationalist gorilla movement named, TPLF (Tigrean People Liberation Front) as the name indicates has its mandate to secede the province of Tigray from the rest of Ethiopia. Its mission was supposed to do that and stop right there. However, the people of Ethiopia who had been repressed and reigned brutally by the Mengistu’s military junta did not resist these new Weyane visitors substantially because they thought they could bring peace and freedom for these were the values the Weyanes allegedly fought for. Nevertheless, they had a different agenda hiding in their package. Just like the European colonizers, they implemented the ‘divide and rule’ formula in the name of “the right of nationalities” by splitting Ethiopians on ethnic lines and labeling them as Oromos, Amharas, Debubs, Tigrians and so on. The current population of Ethiopia is estimated to be 85.2 million of which Tigreans constitute 4.5 million the majority of whom are not even represented or served by the Weyane rulers whose job in the outset was to liberate and set them free, free from whom, I don’t know. Weyanes, who are a handful duces have their claws stuck in the flesh of Ethiopians including the majority of Tigrean people and are determined to conquer and reign the nation indefinitely. Their ignorance and our stupidity is to talk about democracy, election and human rights in a vacuum and to be amateur actors all together. The issue clearly has to be a movement of independence and freedom from the internal colonization that we are truly facing. So we can forget about all the other socio political matters that come with a free and democratic system and our agenda today has to be standing against the modern internal colonization of Weyanes in Ethiopia. Do not expect a pigeon egg from a snake. That is what they are and this is the only truth. 6.07% of the population has controlled the other 93.93%. This is not democracy but is aristocracy or autocracy, simply put complete dictatorship. Therefore, the majority of Ethiopians had been and are being colonized by Emperor Meles and his Agazi Army. This colonization however could be more dangerous for the ordinary people of Tigray if the resentment against them translates in undesirable consequences at the end of the day. Uniting and standing as one force against this colonization is a timely slogan unless our view and political participation is biased by economic and other personal interests.

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14. November 2010 by Assimba.

By Obo Arada Shawl - November 13, 2010

Introduction

To live for one-self, as opposed to live for posterity or for predecessors, is now the prevailing passion. To live for the moment has become the fashion. Our historical Eathiopian continuity for community of unifiers, identifiers and democratizers seems to be lost fast and easy. But thanks to our sense of belonging to the succession of selfless generation of EPRP – YA’ TWLD - originating in the past and stretching into the future, the Youth League seems to revive. It is also worthwhile to recognize the concepts of Y’KAELO versus WARSAI in the Eritrean case. Y’KAALo is about the past and WARSAI is about the future generation.

On October 23, 2010, I have witnessed an historical moment for reconnecting the missing links of a generation that was meant to become a model for a political party in Ethiopia.

The Youth

Though the evening was an occasion for introducing to the public, some of the Collective Youth League leadership groups that was recently formed, it was also the 38^th year anniversary of EPRP’s continuum political struggle.

38 years may seem long period of time but in comparison to the tasks and mission to be accomplished by the self-less Generation of the 1960-70 it is a short time. At the time, Ethiopia was at the crossroads of a revolutionary period to be transformed from feudalism to socialism while simultaneously rejecting Communism, Fascism and Imperialism. The Ethiopian Revolution, according to DEBTERAW, was meant to be an indigenous Revolution. It was envisaged as a model for an Eway concept and methodology i.e. a change of the mindset and a belief system based on Eathiopian history and culture (HC).

• The Eathiopian Youth have continued unabated to fight for change even when its members have aged. Eathiopians never age mentally; the brain is kept alive and alert. There is a reason for that, climate.

The Ethiopian Student League of EPRP was very strong psychologically as well as organizationally. Inasmuch as the EPRP collective leadership (be it in the crocodile format or animal format) it was the engine behind the Eway Revolution, ERYLG became the real shaker, if not at times, the mover of the main EPRP organization.

What has happened to all those vibrant and self-less members of the Eathiopan Youth League? It was true; it was destroyed by the Red Terror of the DERG, by the allied forces of the DERG and by the faction of EPRP aka A&B. It was decimated as it was never before. Now, after three decades, a new organization is born to replace or duplicate it.

The Youth League of EPRP hereafter to be known as We’KND is good news. So far, at least, the three members of the leadership as I have witnessed to their presentation do seem to replace the old guard of EPRP individually though collectively it is too early to tell.

A book titled “Mirkogna” authored by Konjit Berhan was on display for this occasion. It is a very special book in the sense that it narrates the various personalities under duress that has happened during the Red Terror and thereafter. It is a book to be read in order to understand the nature of the Red Terror in Eathiopia and its impact on the Youth in particular and among Eathiopian families in general.

ASSIMBA-TSELEMT-MERKATO (ATM)

I have been referring to the Automatic Teller Machine as the struggle of EPRP starting from Assimba-traveling via Tselemt region to reach Merkato in Addis Ababa. There may be questions to be raised such as, did EPRP started in Assimba, and did it only pass through Tselemt or did it or will it culminate in Merkato? Many questions could be asked. But the main thing is this. Was the struggle about holding political power in order to pick money from the nation’s bank of Eathiopia as if it is an ATM? Or should we expect answers from the leaders of TPLF and EPLF?.

Assimba, the red mountain is the symbol for one of the colors of our flag. The indigenous Revolution has to start from top bottom or bottom top. Assimba was the initial stage for the long march. Those who had participated in this march for the sake of Eathiopia are still alive and well. They were forced to move out, were asked to be disarmed or to surrender. Despite all these harassment and threats, they had avoided bloodshed for their Party’s mission was to educate the peasants first before involving them in combat. What a noble mission!

Tselemt is symbolic not only for the harmony of two local languages but also a place where poverty and tradition survived for too long side by side. It was here where another setback for EPRA’s movement has occurred. Some dissident elements have revolted though it has ended in a peaceful way.

Merkatao is a home for EPRP hideouts. The population of Mercato is full of diversity that they do not even know their personal identity let alone their ethnic background. A story was told during this gathering by a young man who claimed that he is an Ethiopian with Eritrean parentage. This was because he was born in Mercado area and that his parents never told him that such incidents would happen. He asked a question about the sincerity of the new Eathiopian Youth League in comparison with the attempted failure of organizing the Youth by EPRDF. He named names to that effect. I have asked him whether his question was answered, he told me no. I encouraged him not to be discouraged. In fact I pointed out to him that there was a professor inside the hall who has the same position like him – an Eritrean by birth but an Ethiopian by nationality. When I told him that I am an Eritrean and an Ethiopian at the same time, he could not believe me. He said, “I have never heard such thing.” He continued to be puzzled “Is there such a thing?” I told him, there is such thing as DEMOCRACIA – a long and an arduous struggle for UNITY.

Collective Leadership

The question of leadership be it in Eathiopia or inside EPRP has been a very critical issue. It is an issue not yet resolved whether among Ethiopians in general or among Issaias, Kinjit leadership or Melesse groups in particular. The rule of the king and the rule of the military dictator have been replaced by CC (central committee). I have written on the concept of CC a couple of times and I found is absolutely irrelevant for our societies and communities as the two words have been so much abused by the so-called revolution of Ethiopia.

What about the leadership concept in EPRP’s case, one may ask? Leadership has been taken very seriously in EPRP’s leadership as it was expected to bring havoc to our societies if not handled carefully.

First of all feudalism has been entrenched in Eathiopia for thousand of years and as such, it was not easy to deal with it unless dealt immediately onset of the Eway Revolution. The “Animal” groups believed in openness and trust while the “Crocodile” groups have had to depend on secrecy and clandestine system of operation. This method of communication has brought not only misunderstanding but havoc and destruction in Sahel, in Tigrai, at Assimba and in Addis Ababa. The Animal leadership has continued to live and struggle to the end. It is always good to learn from history, the animals survived longer than the crocodile. I hope the current leadership of EPRP is doing the right thing in transferring leadership in collective terms in the “Animal format.”

I am happy that collective leadership a la EPRP is a model to be emulated by many organizations in Eathiopia. EPRP has paid a heavy price to be modeled.

To be continued…

The gathering that took place three weeks ago was probably full of experiences of knowledge and wisdom for the average attendee’s age seemed 50 years. By Eathiopian standard, they are all dead but thanks to science and technology, we are alive.

There was a book on display titled ምርኮና “Mirkogna”. It is a book about how the Youth of 1970 and 80’s some of who have volunteered and others who were forced to go to the countryside by abandoning school in order to educate and to organize the peasants of Eathiopia. In the country side, they struggled to change what they perceived as backward i.e. without science and technology - country of theirs via politics and revolution In the process, they were decimated, but those who have survived the wave of Red Terror – have also relived to see the ugly disease known as HIV, a dual tragedy of the “THE GENERATION.”

It is a wonderful book to be read for it depicts different individual characters who were dedicated to the struggle of organizing a political party to be known as EPRP even at the expense of disposing their lives, let alone torture or exile. This book is better understood to be read in conjunction with another book titled “M’skrnet”- a book full of facts but with little truth. Both books tell different stories for they narrate from inside and outside respectively. The author of M’skrnet tells his story from the adage that ‘seeing is believing’ whereas M’Rkogna’s writer narrates from the perception of ‘believing is seeing’. What is our choice in today’s world? Now you see it, now you don’t see it. What a world we are in!

These two books could be solid background readings for understanding the evil event of Red Terror in Ethiopia as well as the endurance of those dedicated and integrated EPRP members.

The Eathiopian struggle will continue until we get it right. EPRP is honored to hand over its leadership quality to the Eathiopian Youth. The Struggle…is to be continued with more of DEMOCRACIA and less of dictatorship.

For comments and questions

woldetewolde@yahoo.com

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13. November 2010 by Assimba.

“ልክ ነው ብዙ የተ ጣ ሱ አሰራ ሮ ች አሉ ለዚሀ ም ነው በመ ጀ መ ሪ ያ ም ይቅርታ ለመ ጠ የቅ የፈለኩ ት ፤ የሥራ አስኪ ያጅ ኮሚ ቴ ው ሥራ ው ን ብ ቁ በሆ ነ መ ንገድ እንዳልስራ እኔ ማ መ ን ፈልጋለሁ ፣ ለድም ፅ አንኳን መ ቅ ረብ አል ነበረበትም ይሄን ነገር ድም ፁ ን ግን እንደገና የመ ነጋ ገር መ ብ ት የቦርዱ አባሎ ች መ ብት ነው ፤ በሚ ቀ ጥ ለው ቀ ን ፔ ት ሽ ን ተፈርሞ ም ናምን የሚ ል ሕ ግ የለም ፤ ስሜ ታ ዊ ነት ነበረ ተናግሬ ዋ ለሁ ኃይለ ቃ ሎ ች ነበሩ ተናግሬ ዋ ለሁ ማ ንም ስው ማ ንም ላይ ጠ መ ን ጃ የያዘ የለም እንደዚያ አይ ነት ግ ኑኝ ነት ም ስብሰባ አይደለም ስሜ ታ ዊ ስብ ሰባ ነበረ፤ አርግጥ ድም ፅ ከፍ ባለ ሁኔታ ነበር የሚነነጋገረው ግን ዋናው ስው አንዲ ገነዘብ ል ኝ እናንተም አንድ ታው ቁት የም ፈል ገው ያንን መ ጀ መ ሪያ ድም ፅ የስጡ ት ሰዎ ች ማ ንም ያስገደዳ ቻ ው የለም አይሆንም በዚ ያው በድ ም ፃች ን አንቀ ጥ ላለን ብ ለው መ ቅ ረት ሲ ች ሉ እራሳ ቸ ው አንድ ባንድ ተነስተው ማ ይ ክሮ ፎኑን ይዝ ው እኔ ድ ም ፄ ን ያመ ጣ ሁ ት ን መ ል ሻ ለሁ በሚ ል ነው የወ ስ ኑት፡”

“It is true lots of illigal things were done, that is why I apologised ahead. I want to admit that the executive commitee did not carry its duties in a proper manner. The issue should not have been brought for voting at all on the otherhand it is the board’s pergoative to bring the issue back for further discussion there is no such thing (in the bi laws) as revisitng the issue at a later date using petition. It was emotional meeting as I have indicated, harsh words were exchanged on the other hand no one was armed with guns, it is not such type of meeting. I want all to understand and you (VOA) to be aware that those who voted for the motion withdrew their support without coercion and it was their decision.”

The above is part of the interview granted by Ato Fasil Abebe the public relations head of ESFNA to Ato Adisu Abebe and Ato Alula Kebede of Voice of America. The VOA reporters were very patient with Ato Fasil. They asked him probing question laced with facts from the organization’s past. I am afraid Ato Facil was not able to answer their questions to the listeners satisfactuion. It was a lesson in good journalism when they allowed their guest to escape bloodied but not down so he can contemplate the gravity of the situation. I presume Ato Addisu and Ato Alula felt further probe will not serve the communities interest.

I found Ato Fasils answerer to be a reflection of our attitude towards the law, rules and regulations and general civility in our community. At the bat he admited rules were broken, chaoes reigned, and the meeting was reduced to a shouting and insulting match but at the same time he is willing to argue and defend decisions taken under these curcumstances as valid and binding. This situation is very familiar to us Ethiopians. Might makes right. Rules are inconvinces that can be ignored or redefined after the event to justify what was done.

I am sure ESFNA folks have figured out ‘these Abeshas will complain, really get exited and move on to the next drama and life will go on as usual.’ I am afraid they might be right. If I have to bet I will go with them. Although our country is known for its marathon runners we in the Diaspora are sprinters. We accelerate and tire easy. We overheat quickly and cool down fast. It is obvious we have created ESFNA in our own image. It is easy to ignore individual madness but when an an organization goes rogue it sort of exhibits our collective fault for the world to see. We witness this shameful act of betrayal of trust and general huliganism and we feign surprise. We know it is wrong but somehow we step back and refuse to correct and remedy the situation.

Why? When did we develop this habit of not standing for what is right? Why do we let the criminal elements amongst us to run amok and make our exile existance miserable? How come we always start with good intentions, lofty principles but end up holding a broken organization with members at each others throat? Of all immigrants we are the ones always congregating together, forming little enclaves, running small businesses, worshiping together and generally hanging out like a family. Why are we unable to build on this tremondous reserve of love for country and culture into a formidable organization that reflects the new us? The ‘us’ that left our home land due to civil war, strife, lack of opportunity and dictatorship and settled in a new land and thrive like no one. We work hard, we are an asset to the organizations we work for the community we live in but are totally useless when it comes to associating on a new and higher level as Ethiopians.

ESFNA is our challange. This should be where we draw the line. It is not about what happened yesterday. It is all about what we can build for tomorrow. This is the best opportunity to create an organization built on solid foundation of transaprency, accountability and a promise of serving the community and our country. All the parts are there, it is just a matter of having the will and the stamina to put it together for future generations to enjoy and grow.

We are thankful to those that started the organization. We pay our respects to those that kept it going. Today we are focused on improving on it and making it the power house of good will that it should be. We want it to be an organization that will usher a new model of work based on respect for each other, love for each other and hope for all that look up to us. Obviously we can not do that in Ethiopia. We can start the process here. ESFENA should be our proto type of a superior style of organization building.

The current leadership of the organization should admit that the existing format is not sustainable. It was fine when the outfit was operating in the dark. Well the bright light of public awareness and scrutiny is shining on ESFNA. There are two avenues open to the current leadership. Accept the fact that change is coming and help implement the reforms necessary or continue on the path of denyal and see the organization implode from inside. That does not serve anybody’s interest. That only confirms the suspecion some have regarding the lawlessness and bad intentions of the leadership. I don’t want to believe that. I am sure there are plenty that mean well but go along with the culture of tuggery that has been practised for so long. Let us encourage those that want real change and build on that.

The current crisis is not just about wheather Chairwoman Bertukan should be invited or not. That just happened to magnify the ‘bad style’ of work that used to be acceptable. It magnified the festering problem inside the organization. I am sure there are plenty of association that would love to see the Chairman. No the issue is how the organization dealt with the question. First of all this argument of ‘non-profit’ and ‘politics’ has been debunked. Our esteemed lawyers have answered that question. There are no attorneys in the executive body nor have they brought a written opinion from a law firm to support their mistaken take on the issue. Let us put that view to rest.

Second, ESFNA was unable to show what parliamentary procedure it used to overturn the binding vote taken regarding the invitation. Thus the orginal decision still stands. As far as we are concerned the invitation is still on the table and it is up to the Chairwoman to accept or differ for later time. Our concern is how to reform this organization to serve the interest of the community instead of a few individuals that are focused on running it line up their pockets and protect outside forces that do not reflect the hopes and aspirations of our people and country.

I believe we should concentrate on two fronts. Number one is the issue of ‘empowering’ the clubs to assume responsibility of representing their supporters in a meaningful manner. The ‘clubs’ are the owners of the organization. The executive body is there to implement the decision made by the clubs. As it stands now, the roles have been reversed. The executive committee is a runaway train with the public and the clubs reduced to shoveling more fuel. This train should be derailed in a controled fashion. We ask the clubs to take over their rightful place and demand accountability.

The second front is to demand release of all finacial statement for the last seven years. Our public accountants should be allowed to comb thru the income tax returns and draw up a yearly budget based on past records. This is not a witch hunt to blame or hold liable but a sincere attempt to build a sucessful and proud organization. We hope the current executive body will read the writing on the wall and cooperate in a meaningful manner. The aim should be to build not destroy, to teach not punish and forgive but not forget. It is upto the executive body to choose. It is up to the ‘sane and reasonable’ among them to curb the misguided enthusiasm and anger of their comrades.

ESFNA is considered and holds the license to operate as a not-for profit outfit. That designation entitles it to lots of tax benefits so it will fulfill the vision it enumerated in its application. The license demands of it to operate in an open and transparent manner. Holding the not-profit license is a privilege not a right.

Atlanta is going to happen. We should make it clear that we are not going anywhere. Atlanta is where we make our stand. We do not boycot our own wedding. We do not split and form another organization. ‘Teletafi’ is not our cup of tea. We should just insisit that democratic, transparent and accountable style of work is the only thing acceptable to the majority. Each and everyone of us should work with the clubs to help them achieve the fruits of their labor. Their sucess is our success. As you know the vast majority of those that attend the yearly festival are the young ones. We should find a way to involve them in this building process so they will experience the value of a democratic style of association and work habit. It is not going to happen in one session. It is not take roots in one season. Growing a strong organization is hard work. We can vow to start it today.

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